Solomon: If the Texans listen to The King they will win the Super Bowl next year

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By following a few steps, it could be the Texans hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in 2014. (Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle)

Yeah, Tuesday was a perfect day for a parade in downtown Houston.

And boy was I wrong about the City of Houston hosting one on this day.

Look, I’m not a Texans fan. I like a lot of the players, the coaches, the front office and the owner, so yeah it would be nice to see many of them enjoy a Super Bowl celebration. But I wasn’t crushed that they lost at New England in the playoffs.

Don’t get me wrong, I was upset. I was upset that they didn’t finish with the best record in the AFC and I was upset that they had to play the Patriots in Foxboro.

I picked them to win it all, so of course I was upset. They made me look bad by crawling to the finish line of the NFL season.

But as one of my mentors taught me, it’s not my fault when a team doesn’t live up to its potential. Yeah, I’m still saying the Texans could have won the Super Bowl. Heck, not just could have won it, but should have won it.

They rolled the team that won the Super Bowl and partied like mad at a parade today by a score of 43-13, so of course the Texans were capable of beating the best in the NFL.

You know I’m right. Don’t hate.

There are many reasons they didn’t win it all. We’ve gone over all them too many times.

Were I the owner of the team my Texans would have won the Super Bowl. Yeah, I said it.

You would have been partying like crazy yesterday, and I would have been trying to convince the Chronicle sports editor that the best parade column would be from Three B’s Grill in Kingwood, where The Omniscient King would have walked to the celebration where everyone would be treated to the “King Solomon” steak off the menu.

But the Texans messed that up.

Here are five things the Texans need to do to ensure a Super Bowl parade in the Bayou City a year from now.

1. When The King speaks, listen. You didn’t get Peyton Manning like I told you too last offseason. How’d that work out for you? It cost me a parade party, damn it. You went against me and didn’t keep DeMeco Ryans because you were too cheap and you figured you were OK with inside linebackers and team leaders. How’d that work out for you? You didn’t keep Eric Winston because you thought you had enough team leaders and wanted to save a few bucks and figured you could get average play at right tackle for less money. How’d that work out for you? So, I repeat, you’re close to being a Super Bowl team, so when The King speaks, listen.

2. Turn Matt Schaub loose. Hell no, Matt isn’t an elite quarterback, no one except his agent has ever argued that, but he is much better than he showed down the stretch. If you don’t trust him to audible, to take care of the ball on third-and-long and not to turn it over in the red zone, then why in the world did you give him a contract with a $29 million guarantee? I’m tired of hearing him say he didn’t attack a defense in the red zone because the coverage it showed was the right one for the play that was called. Then check into a better one. Jeez. Rookie quarterbacks have more freedom at the line of scrimmage than Schaub. If Gary Kubiak wants to play quarterback and be the head coach, then he needs to put on the pads and tryout for the team. But if Schaub is the guy, and he is, then let him do his job.

3. Rework enough contracts to make it work, then spend well over the salary cap to sign a legitimate No. 2 wide receiver. It would be nice if one of the young wideouts stepped into that role, but unless one of them finds some magic cleats hanging on an electrical wire this offseason, that won’t happen. And Kevin Walter simply isn’t capable of getting the job done. I don’t care how great your No. 1 receiver is, but when there is a 71 catch difference between the number of balls your top receiver caught and your second-best receiver caught, obviously your second-best receiver isn’t very good. Go get a good one. Average would be better than what you’ve had at that position the last couple of years.

4. Draft the best player on the board, regardless of position. There are enough holes on the team that a late first-round draft pick could be an immediate contributor almost anywhere except running back, so don’t get cute and over think it, let your scouting define the best player and take him.

5. Get a real backup quarterback. One that you believe is capable of taking the team to the Super Bowl when Schaub gets hurt. I know, I should have written “should Schaub get hurt,” but the percentages say he will miss some games next year so be prepared for it. I’ll tell you who some of those quarterbacks are a little later. It’s too early for all that now. Just know that you need to get one. Your players know and you know that T.J. Yates isn’t that guy. As likable as he is, there is a significant drop-off from Schaub to Yates. As is the case with your wide receivers, you need to close the gap between your No. 1 and No. 2 quarterback … just in case. I’m not worried about Schaub’s feelings and you shouldn’t be either. If having a better backup will bother him, then get him to the team psychologist.

Bonus: This isn’t exactly outside-the box thought, but getting new special teams ideas is an important step too. And the next time a unit is underperforming to such a level, the Texans should consider making an in-season coaching change.